the conference panellists discussed federalism’s potential to accommodate Iran’s patchwork of national minorities. Discussion dwelled on the issues of autonomy, democratization, good governance, and press freedom before a final debate on the question of what the future may hold for Iran

Aidiran.org

Staff Writer

April 6, 2009

Brussels – Leading Iranian opposition figures representing the major nationalities of Iran met in Brussels, Belgium for a two-day conference on 1-2 April 2009 to discuss the prospects for democratization and federalism in Iran. 

 Entitled ‘Human Rights and the Question of Democratization and Federalism in Iran’, the conference panellists discussed federalism’s potential to accommodate Iran’s patchwork of national minorities. Discussion dwelled on the issues of autonomy, democratization, good governance, and press freedom before a final debate on the question of what the future may hold for Iran.

The conference was being organized by the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) in partnership with the Congress of Nationalities for a Federal Iran (CNFI) and Members of the European Parliament from the Nonviolent Radical Party.

The Conference convened with the opening speech of Marino Busdachin, General Secretary of the UNPO.  In his opening statement he asserted that this conference is not to divide Iran, rather it is an initiative to bring federalism to Iran, where within such a system of governance all nationalities in Iran will be recognized and their rights will be respected, and above all, Iran will remain united and integral.   Busdachin’s words reiterated the fact that such a conference is in line with efforts to bring about a modern and responsible government in Iran.

Opening speeches were also made by the co-sponsor of the conference Paulo Casaca MEP, member of the Socialist Group and member of the delegation for relations with Iran, and Marco Cappato MEP, vice-chairman of the delegation for relations with the Mashreq countries.

Sabin Meyer, an advisor on security and international relations in Free Europe and a member of the Green who chaired the first panel delivered an introductory speech on federalism. Christin Bacca from Leden University made some remarks on decentralization and D. Karim Abdian on behalf of the Alhawazi Arabs with the CNFI and Sanim Baluch representing the Iranian Baluchis each made a presentation in this panel. 

In other panels, Nahid Bahmani, Naser Mostasha, Zia Sadr-Ashrafi, Hedayat Soltanzadeh, Naser Iranpour, Dr. Golmorad Moradi, Professor Ali Ataie, Afrasyab Shokofteh, Fakhteh Zamani, Abdullah Hejab, Syria Dadyar, Golamreza Hosenbor, Naser Mobaraki, Abdullah Mohtadi and Kazem Mojdam representing various nationalities in Iran and Aman Van His from Amnesty International and Kianoush Tavakoli from Iran Global made remarks in this regard.

Overall, the presentations and discussions revolved around the topics of continued struggle to bring about a free and democratic society in Iran via decentralization, self-rule and federalism on the basis of preserving the territorial integrity of the country.

The two day conference concluded with a final resolution mainly to appeal to European law-makers to assist the democratization process in Iran by providing assistance to national minorities voices and concerns and as well as facilitating resources at their disposal for such a political makeover.

The two day conference in Brussels in the words of many participants has been the largest of its kind and the biggest gathering of the Congress of Nationalities of Federal Iran since its inception in 2005.